Lock and door operating mechanism



Dec. 15, 193-1. L J. WHITE ET AL LOCK AND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS 5; ATTORNEYS.

D06. 15, 1931. L, J, w T ET AL 1,836,698

LOCK AND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5 Q 34 6 W All l4.

llllllm T J\ /Z J? I NVENTORS Lam BE 1 o urz yblaod/ ATTQRNEYS V to provide certain tendant.

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LLOYD 3. WHITE AND DAVID E. YOUNGIBLOOD, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS T soorrrnim PRISON COMPANY, or

TEXAS SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF LOOK AND DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Application filed March 4,

This invention relates to master actuating mecl'ianisms for-cell doors and locks and aims important improvements shown in the copending a o "cation of L. J. White and G. L. Young- "l, Serial No. 151,142 filed May 9, 1930. The main idea is to provide improved mechanism for imparting movement in proper sequence to the bars which operate the locks and doors while power is applied continuously in one direction to the mechanism so as to reduce the number of operations necessary to be performed by the jailer or at- Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the accom- -ng drawings, wherein j 1 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view showing master operating mechanism atone end of a row of cells;

Fig. 2 is a continuation of'Fig. 1 showing the preferred form of rocker mechanism for impart-inc movements to a pair of master 'bars;

enlarged top plan view of the rocker mechanism shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2;

Fig. l a sectional view Fig.3is

taken on the line Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive are detail sectional views taken on line 55 of Fig. 3 and showi different positions of the rocker mechm to explain the sequence of operations.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention there shown constitutes a part of a master operating system wherein lock operating and door propelling movements are imparted in sequence to a pair of master bars arranged to be selectively connected to the doors. However, it will be apparent that the same type of mechanism may be used to actuate individualbars over the doors.

In this example, the improved mechanism applied to a row of jail cells having sliding doors 10, vertically movable latch bars 11, a master looking bar 12 and a master door propelling bar 13. The connections between the bars and the individual'looks and doors 1931; Serial No. 520,120.

control box 19. The illustrated selector meoh anism is fully disclosed in an application of D. F. Youngblood, Patent No. 1,7 85, 17 1 dated December 16, 1930, and the master control box is the subject of another Youngblood Patent No. 1,7 85,469 dated December 16, 1930. Hence these featuresrequire no further description herein.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the doors 10 are arranged to slide to the left to open. Likewise, the master bars 12 and 13 move to 1 the left to unlock and to open the selected doors. As shown, all doors are locked closed. hen one or more doors are selected to be opened by manipulating the appropriate selector levers 16, the lockingbar 12 a short distance to the left to unlock the doors and then to move the door propelling bar 13 to the left to open the unlocked doors. If the opened doors are to be locked open, it is next necessary to move the locking bar to the right or back to its locking position while the propelling bar remains stationary. These operations must be reversed to unlock, close and relock the doors. Now, this invention has to do with'improved mechanism whereby the hand wheel 17 or other actuating means, either electrical or mechanical, may be moved continuously in one direction to impart both look and door operating movements to the bars.

In the present example, the mechanism for imparting the operating movements to the bars is located in the usual housing 20 above the doors and adjacent to the bars 12 and 13. In Fig. 4 a pair of spaced brackets 21 are shown as being secured to the bottom of the housing 20 to provide journal bearings for a transverse shaft 22 below the bars. Fixed on one end of this shaft is an upstanding lever arm 23 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) whichis pivotally connected at its upper end 12, having a slotted connection to permit the bar to move longitudinally while the lever to the locking bar in Figs; 1 to 5 inclusive,

pelling bar 13 is secured a pair of similar,

parallel, channel-shaped rocker arms 24 with their channels facing each other and having arcuate, downwardly projecting end portions- 25 so that they are substantially L-shaped. These rocker members are shown as having ears 26 on their lower ec ges and a short dis-- tanee from their right ends are rigidly secured to the shaft 22. The arrangement is such that rocking movement is ilnparted to the shaft 22 through these rocker members by means of a pair of spaced bell cranks 27 pivoted at the junction of their arms to the master bar 13 and each having spaced, laterally projecting rollers 28 and 29 on one arm extending into the parallel channels of the rockers, the front pair of rollers 28 being preferably mounted on the pivot pin 30 through the bell cranks and bar 13. The op erating arms of the bell cranks straddle the bar 13 and are pivotally secured at their upper ends to amaster actuating rod or link 31 which is connected to the hand wheel 17 by suitable gearing, such as shown in the aforesaid application of L. J. WVhite and G. L. Youngbloed, to be moved longitudinally in either direction upon turning the hand wheel 17 (Fig. 1).

When the parts are in the position shown the front pair of rollers on the bell crank arms are above the shaft 22 and the rear pair of rollers 29 are near therear ends of the rocker channels. lVhen the link or rod initially moves to the left, the rollers will therefore swing the rockers to the left, until they reach a horizontal position when the arcuate ends will strike the web 32 of a channel beam secured to the bottom wall of the housing 20 and having its flanges 33 extending upwardly underthe rollers 28 and 29 to provide tracks therefor so as to take the downward thrust thereof. This initial rocking movement imparted to the rocker members is sufiicient to move the locking bar 12 through the crank arm 23 to its unlocking position, as shown in F ig. 6, and all selected doors are unlocked.

After the rocker members have been rocked to the position shown in F ig. 6, and the actuating rod or link 31 continues to move to the left, the bell cranks move bodily to the left carrying the propelling bar 13 with them while the rollers 28 and 29 ride in the parallel channels of the rockers 24 which are now parallelwith said bar, the rear rollers 29 on their stub shafts preventing further rocking movement of the bell crank arms. The longitudinalmovement of the bell cranks and the bar 13, propelling the selected doors to their open position, continues until the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 7. A transverse stop member 34 on the bar 13 limits the movement of the bar by striking the right end of the channel flanges 33. The forward pair of rollers 28 then register with the arcuate channels in the projections or arms 25 of the rockers. The selected doors are now unlocked and opened.

- Still further-movement of the actuating link orrod 31 to the left willnow' impart rocking or pivotal movement to the bell cranks, about the pivot pin 30, causing the forward rollers 28 to engage the arcuate cl1annel's'25" of the rocker members while the rear rollers 29 remain in the forward end portions of the straight channels and tilt the rockers to the position shown in Fig. ,8. The rocker members have thus imparted locking movement to the locking bar 12 through the shaft-22 and the crank arm 23 while the propelling bar 13 remains stationary.

Throughout all of the foregoing operations the master actuating rod was moved continuously to the left and the operator did not have to work separate mechanisms. After selecting the doors to be opened, he turned the hand'wheel 17 until it has reached the limit of its movement or until the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 8. Further, he can unlock, close and relock the doors by turning the hand wheel back to its starting position or to the limit of its reverse movement, all of the foregoing operations of the rocker mechanism and bars being reversed. Incidentally, another transverse stop member 35 onthe propelling bar 13 limits the movement of the bar and rocker mechanism tothe right, thus also limiting the reverse movement of the hand Wheel. 7

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that all parts of the improved rocker mechanism are relatively simple and easy. to install in any system employing door operating and locking bars. Many of the parts-may be-made of standard structural elements at a relativelylow cost. Moreover, the arrangement is such that no undue twisting-ortorsionalstrains are applied to the rocker members and the mechanism will never become ammedf There are no delicate and complex parts that are likely to break or get out of order. The mechanism is sturdy, reliabl'e'and avoids the necessity for a jailer or attendant to perform a series of more or less complex operations in order to open and close the cell doors.

Obviously, the present invention is not stricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover. it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used eonjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinationsand sub-combinations.

.VVhat we claim is 1. In a master lock and door operating system for a series of cell doors having operating bars arranged to be selectively connected to the locks and doors; rocker members adjacent to the bars; an actuating connection between the rocker members and the lock operating bars; bell crank arms pivoted on the door operating bar and connected initially to impart rocking movement to the rocker members to actuate the selected door locks and subsequently to impart door propelling movement 7 to the door operating bar; and means to impart continuous movement in one direction to the bell crank arms.

2. In a master lock and door operating sys tem for a series of cell doors having operating bars arranged to be selectively connected to the locks and doors; rocker members adjacent to the bars; a pair of spaced channel-shaped rocker members arranged below said bars; a crank arm associated with the rocker members and connected to actuate the locking bar; a bell crank pivotally connected to the door operating bar; connections between the bell crank and the channel-shaped rocker members whereby pivotal movement of the bell crank will actuate the rocker members and the connected locking bar independently of the door operating bar, said connections between the bell crank and rocker members permitting the bell crank to impart door propelling movement to the door operating bar after the rocker members have actuated the locking bar; and a single master actuating member connected to impart continuous movement in one direction to the bell crank while a selected door is being unlocked and opened or closed and re-locked.

3. In a master lock and door operating system for a series of cell doors having operating bars arranged to be selectively connected to the locks and doors, rocker members adjacent to the bars; a crank arm secured to rock with the rocker members and pivotally connected to the locking bar; bell crank arms on the door operating bar and connected initially to impart rocking movement to the rocker members to actuate the selected door locks and subsequenty to impart door propelling movement to the door operating bar; and means to impart continuous movement to the bell crank arms.

4. In a master lock and door operating system for a series of cell doors having operating bars arranged to be selectively connected to the locks and doors, rocker members adjacent to the bars; a pair of spaced channel-shaped rocker members arranged below said bars; means associated with the roc er members connected to actuate the locking bar incident to rocking movement; a bell crank pivotally connected to the door operating bar; connections between the bell crank and the channelshaped rocker members whereby pivotal movement of the bell crank will actuate the rocker members and the connected locking bar independently of the door operating bar, said connections between the bell crank and rocker members permitting the bell crank to impart door propelling movement to the door operating bar after the rocker members have actuated the locking bar; and a single master actuating memoer connected to impart continuous movement in one direction to the bell crank while a selected door is being unlocked and opened or closed and re-locked.

5. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged in a housing above the seriesof doors, selector mechanism adapted to connect selected locks and doors to the respective bars; common actuated mechanism for the bars including a pair of channel-shaped rocker members pivoted within the housing and having an actuating arm connected to the master lock operating bar; a bell crank lever pivotally connected to the master door propelling bar and adapted to move bodily therewith; operative connections between said bell crank lever and said rocker members arranged to impart rocking movement thereto when the bell crank lever is pivotally actuated; means for limiting the pivotal movement of said bell crank lever; and a single operating member connected to said bell crank lever to impart actuating movements to said master bars in the proper sequence.

6. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged in a housing above the series of doors, selector mechanism adapted to connect selected locks and doors to the respective bars; common actuating mechanism for the bars including a pair of substantially L-shaped rocker members pivoted within the housing and having an associated actuating arm connected to the master lock operating bar; a pair of spaced bell crank levers pivotally connected to the master door propelling bar and adapted to move bodily therewith; operative connections between said bell crank levers and one arm of said L-shaped rocker member arranged to impart rocking movement thereto when the bell crank levers are pivotally actuated; and master actuating means connected to said bell crank levers first to impart pivotal movement thereto and thereafter to impart bodily longitudinal movement thereto whereby to transmit actuating movements to said master bars in the proper sequence.

7. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged in a housing above the series of doors, selector mechanism adapted to connect selected locks and doors to the respective bars; common actuating mechanism for the bars including a pair 01' substantially L-shaped rocker mem- 5 ers pivoted within the housing and having an actuating arm connected to the master lock operating bar; a bell crank lever pivot-- ally connected to the master door propelling bar and adapted tomove bodily therewith; spaced roller connections between said bell c ank lever and said L-shaped rocker members arranged to impart rocking movement thereto when the bell crank lever is pivotally actuated; and a single actuating member connected to impart both pivotal and bodily longitudinal movement to said bell crank whereby to transmit actuating movements to the respective master bars in the proper sequence.

8. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wl sin master lock operating bar and a ma door propelling bar are arranged within a housing above the doors, selector mechanism for selectively connecting any of the locks and doors to said bars; fixed bearing brackets within the housing; L-shaped rocker members pivoted to said fixed brackets and having an associated arm pivotally connected to the master lock operating bar; said L- haped rocker members presenting open channels; adjacent bell crank levers pivotally connected at the junctions of their arms to the master door propelling member and arranged to move bodily therewith; spaced laterally projecting rollers on said bell cranks guided in said open channels; and a single actuating device connected to said bellcrank lever whereby to effect sequential actuation of the selected locks and doors.

9. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged within a housing above the doors, means for selectively connecting any of the locks and doors to said bars; a pair of bell crank levers pivotally connected to the master propelling bar and arranged to move bodily therewith; a pair of pivoted rocker arms connected to impart lock actuating movements to said master lock operating bar; operative connections between said bell crank lever and said piv ted arms whereby movement is imparted t he master lock operating bar when said crank lever is pivotally moved; means '0 limit the rocking movement of said arms;

1 a single actuating device operatively consaid bell crank lever first to impart swinging movement to it and then to move it bodily with said master door propelling bar.

10. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged within a. housing above the doors, selector mechanism for selectively connecting any of the locks and doors to bars; fixed brackets within the housing, channel-shaped rockers pivotally connected to said fixed brackets and having an associated arm connected to the master lock operating bar; an actuating lever connected to the master door propelling bar; roller connections between said actuating lever and said channel-shaped rocker meml ers whereby to transmit lock actuating moven ents to said master lock operating bar; and a single manually operable device located at a master control station operatively connected to said actuating lever and arranged to be moved in one direction successively to impart lock actuating and door propelling movements to said master bars.

ll. In a master lock and door operating system for a series of cell doors having a lock operating bar and a door propelling bar; means to select the doors to be actuated; a pair of bearing brackets below the door propelling bar; a transverse rocker shaft mounted in said bearing brackets; duplicate, channel-shaped rocker members secured to said shaft and arranged to rock in paths on opposite sides of the door propelling bar, the channels being parallel with each other and providing guideways; channel-shaped, arouate arms on the rocker members acting as combined guideways and stops to limit the rocking movement of the rocker members; means connecting the rocker members to actuatesaidlockopleratingbar; bell cranks pivotally connect-e to the opposite sides of said door propelling bar spaced rollers on one arm of eacn bell crank guided in the channel guideways of said rocker members; and actuating means connected to the other arms of said bell cranks arranged initially to impart rocking movement to the bell cranks and rocker members so as to actuate the locking bar and, and, thereafter, to impart bodily longitudinal movement to the bell cranks and the door propelling bar while the rocker members are inactive, said arcuate channelshaped arms being so arranged as to permit the bell cranks to impart rocking movement to the rocker members at the end of the door propelling movement.

12. In a master lock and door operating system for a series of cell doors having a lock operating bar and a door propelling bar; means to select the doors to be actuated; a pair of bearing brackets below the door propelling bar; a transverse rocker shaft mountd in said bearing brackets; duplicate, channel-shaped rocker members secured to said shaft and arranged to rock in paths on opposite sides or" the door propelling bar, the channels being parallel with each other and providing guideways; means connecting the rocker members to actuate said lock operating bar; bell cranks pivotally connected to the opposite sides of said door propelling bar spaced rollers on one arm of each bell crank guided in the channel guideways of said rocker members; stationary tracks for the rollers; means initially to impart rocking movement to the bell cranks and the rocker members and thereafter to impart bodily longitudinal movement to the bell crank and the door propelling bar and stop means to limit the movement of the door propelling bar.

13. In a master lock and door operating system for a series of cell doors having a lock operating bar and a door propelling bar; means to select the doors to be actuated; a pair of bearing brackets below the door pro pelling bar; a transverse rocker shaft mounted in said bearing brackets; duplicate, channel-shaped rocker members secured to said shaft and arranged to rock in paths on opposite sides of the door propelling bar the channels being parallel With each other and providing guideways; means connecting the rocker members to actuate said lock operating bar; bell cranks pivotally connected. to the opposite sides of said door propelling bar; spaced rollers on one arm of each bell crank guided in the channel guidewaysofsaid rocker members; a stationary channel section having flanges providing horizontal tracks for said rollers; and master actuating means connected to the bell cranks to impart successive actuating movements tothe bars.

14. In a master lock and door operating system for a series of cell doors having a lock operating bar and a door propelling bar;

means to select the doors to be actuated; a

pair of bearing brackets below the door propelling bar; a transverse rocker shaft mounted in said bearing brackets; duplicate, channel-shaped rocker members secured to said shaft and arranged to rock in paths on opposite sides of the door propelling bar, the channels being parallel with each other and providing guideways; means connecting the rocker members to actuate said lock operating bar; bell cranks pivotally connected to the opposite sides of said door propelling bar, spaced rollers on one arm of each bell crank guided in the channel guidevvays of said rocker members; a stationary channel section having flanges providing horizontal tracks for said rollers; stops on the door propelling bar arranged to strike the ends of the channel section and limit the movement of said bar in either direction; and a single mased in said bearing brackets; duplicate, channel-shaped rocker members secured to said shaft and arranged to rock in paths on opposite sides of the door propelling bar, the channels being parallel with each other and providing guideways; means to limit the rocking movement of the rocker members; a bell crank pivotally connected at the junction of its arms to the door propelling bar; spaced laterally projecting members on the bell crank extending into said guideways and arranged to impart rocking movement to the rocker members and to be confined by said guidevvays to permit the bell crank to be moved bodily longitudinally to actuate the door propelling bar; and master actuating mechanism connected to the bell crank and to move continuously in one direction to impart successive and independent movements to the bars.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, We have hereto aflixed our signatures.

L. J. WHITE. DAVID F. YOUNGBLOOD. 

